I thank Deputy Ward for raising this important issue. I apologise on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Harris. Ireland is a strong supporter of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in Hungary. Respect for human rights and the rule of law are fundamental EU values as enshrined by Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The Tánaiste is very concerned by recent measures taken by the Hungarian Government to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, including the passing of legislation that allows for a ban on Pride celebrations this year. June 28 will mark the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride, the same date as Dublin Pride and the anniversary of Stonewall. The legal and constitutional amendments fast-tracked by the Hungarian Government in recent weeks now provide a basis to ban it under the false pretext of child protection. As a staunch advocate for the rule of law and fundamental EU values, the Tánaiste condemns this fresh attempt to target this community in Hungary by restricting their rights to freedom of expression and assembly as set out in Articles 11 and 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This move is a disturbing escalation by the Hungarian Government in ongoing attempts to curb LGBTQI+ rights. It is the latest development in a series of measures targeting civil society, independent media and minority rights, further weakening the rule of law in the country. It is imperative that the EU uses all the tools at its disposal to address the rule of law backsliding in Hungary. The European Commission has taken legal action in the form of infringement proceedings against Hungary for its failure to abide by its obligations as an EU member state in upholding the rule of law. Ireland has supported these efforts, including by joining the Commission’s case against Hungary in relation to its so-called Child Protection Act. The opinion of the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union on this case was released on 5 June 2025, in which it considers that the child protection law infringes EU law. It suggests a free-standing breach of Article 2 should be found. I look forward to the final judgment in this case, which is expected in the autumn of this year. Ireland also decided in February this year to intervene in the European Commission’s case against Hungary’s sovereignty protection law, which seriously threatens civil society space and independent media in Hungary. Separately, the Article 7 procedure, an EU treaty instrument, has been triggered against Hungary since 2018 due to serious breaches of the rule of law. In addition, the EU is using a range of tools to withhold a total of €18 billion in funding, including through the conditionality mechanism; rule-of-law-related so-called super-milestones in Hungary’s recovery and resilience plan; and the horizontal enabling condition of the common provision regulation that relates to compliance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Additionally, Hungary is denied access to Horizon funding and the Erasmus programme. It is regrettable that Hungary’s access to these programmes is limited but it is essential until remediation measures are put in place to address its consistent contravention of EU law. Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU rule of law toolbox and views it as essential that the EU has the necessary tools at its disposal to respond effectively to rule of law challenges where they arise.

Sentiment score: 0.05

I thank the Deputy. His genuine sincerity, concern and emotion are very heartfelt and that is evident in his statements this evening. Ireland has consistently and strongly advocated for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBT+ persons, including in our relations with Hungary. We have regularly raised our concerns about the serious rule-of-law backsliding and the targeting of civil society and minority rights in Hungary, including in direct contacts with our Hungarian interlocutors. Through our embassy in Budapest, Ireland had 21 diplomatic missions on 27 March this year in calling on Hungarian authorities to repeal the recent legislation passed that allows for a ban on Pride celebrations, including Budapest Pride. At the recent General Affairs Council on 27 May, Ireland, along with a large majority of EU member states, joined a declaration outlining our deep concern and calling on Hungary to reverse these measures. Through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's enlargement and fundamental values fund, we support Hungarian civil society organisations that work to protect the rule of law, civil society space and minorities, including LGBTQ+ rights, in Hungary. We will continue to work closely to monitor developments and raise our concerns as well as continuing to support civil society organisations working to defend our fundamental EU values in Hungary. Again I relay the apologies of the Tánaiste, who wanted to be here this evening to answer the Deputy directly. Like the Deputy, the Tánaiste is very sincere in his concerns about what is happening out there. There is right and wrong in the world and what is happening at present is obviously fundamentally wrong. It is good of the Deputy to raise it here this evening. I apologise on behalf of the Tánaiste in his absence.

Sentiment score: 0.27

I thank the Deputy most sincerely for raising this matter. I wish to convey the apologies of my colleague the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, who regrets he cannot be here for this matter due to another commitment. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising this issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. An opportunity has arisen for the State to purchase the Citywest campus, a former hotel complex in the outer Dublin region. The purchase is part of a long-term strategy to develop a sustainable accommodation system. It will deliver significant long-term savings to the State as it moves from licensing to ownership, and will enable Ireland to meet our requirements under the new EU pact on migration and asylum. The site, which is already being used for both international protection and Ukrainian accommodation, currently has capacity to accommodate approximately 2,300 people between the hotel and the convention centre. When purchased, the campus will continue to be used to accommodate international protection applicants, meeting the State’s intention to increase State-owned accommodation in this sector, which is a major step forward in delivering on the programme for Government. The Citywest campus will be the foundation stone for the new screening facility and border facility and will enable a one-stop shop for processing, accommodation and supports in one location, delivering the most pivotal parts of the new migration pact. Since 2020, the State has been leasing parts of the Citywest campus, first to support the delivery of vaccinations during Covid-19, and since May 2022, as a transit hub and accommodation centre for both beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants. The State’s current licence for the site expires at the beginning of September. The campus has become a very important multifunctional facility for the State. There is currently no alternative accommodation centre of similar scale and facilities to process and accommodate both international protection, and beneficiary of temporary protection, arrivals. The cross-government response has been working extremely well at the Citywest campus and this has been acknowledged by all the State parties and NGOs. There are no immediate plans to increase the capacity at this site. New spaces for international protection applicants will be achieved by using the existing capacity currently being used by Ukrainians and restructures to the current layout. This means the purchase will not lead to increased pressure on local services or the community. The leisure centre on the campus is in commercial use and it is proposed it will continue to function as it currently does to ensure the community can maintain its very important access. The Department wants to support amenities, local services and integration in this area and our community engagement team is already working closely with local community leaders, community groups and stakeholders. A significant strength that applies to the engagement programme needed at this site is that the Citywest campus already enjoys good relationships and operational partnerships in the community with State services and community representatives, including elected representatives.

Sentiment score: 0.35

Once again, Deputy Gogarty's sincerity and concern are very obvious. I thank him for that. He was also very balanced. The planned facility at the site will enable the fastest and most efficient processing of asylum applications in the history of the State. Applicants who will be part of the migration pact border procedures will be fully processed in less than three months from application to the final decision, which is very important. In terms of application numbers, this Government has seen a reduction in those applying for international protection this year from an average of 1,500 per month in 2024 to an average of 1,000 per month so far in 2025. We are, however, still trending to have the third or fourth highest annual application level in the history of the State. Reform of the processing system and the migration pact will help to curtail the need for growth in the accommodation system, but there is still a need to ensure cost-effective solutions that deliver long-term sustainability for international protection accommodation. Community engagement will focus on providing direct public information, proactively engaging with people and local media and creating a space for safe and sound dialogue.

Sentiment score: 0.31

The Deputy has a wonderful way with the English language. I commend him on his determination and having the patience of being here until this time tonight. I am glad to be here representing the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee. I thank the Deputy on her behalf for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position regarding the major school building project for Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, County Wicklow. Delivery of the project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, as part of the programme for school building projects. The brief for the project is to provide a new-build replacement school for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils, including a four-classroom special educational needs base. The project is currently in the final stages of stage 2b, the post planning process, of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When this stage is finalised, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course. The time a project takes to deliver depends on several factors, as the Deputy well knows, including scale and complexity, and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various design stages and the statutory approval process. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them fully informed of all progress. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Youth is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Coláiste Bhríde and will in the wider context outlined ensure that this project, as for all projects on the school building programme, is subject to the due diligence required under the public infrastructure guidelines. Since 2020, the Department of education has invested more than €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision approved €210 million in supplementary capital funding for the Department of Education and Youth, which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for the Department to €1.6 billion. As part of the NDP review process, all Departments, including the Department of Education and Youth, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026 to 2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the summer period and this will allow the Department of Education and Youth to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.

Sentiment score: 0.44

I am sure the Deputy’s constant support for this project will be a great help to its progression. His determination in this regard on behalf of his constituents will be acknowledged by the Government and the Minister. I thank him again for the opportunity to outline the Department of Education and Youth’s position relating to this very important project. As I have outlined, the NDFA has been engaging and will continue to engage with the school to progress this important project. I wish the Deputy every good luck in his endeavours. His determination is duly noted by the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.68